Europe - Western Mediterranean Cruise Reviews

This was our 10th cruise but our first on Holland America. We became aware of this cruise via a Groupon email. Three weeks later we were on our way. We stayed in Barcelona and Rome for an extra few days. Barcelona was new and Rome was a revisit. The Oosterdam was refurbished three years ago so it was fresh and clean. Services and food was very good. The excursions offer by were far less than what are offered by Holland America. If you book the cruise through  Holland America will not let you book an excursion prior to the cruise date. Also, frequently the CruiseOnly excursions had pick up meeting locations a good walking distance from the cruise ship terminal while the Holland America  excursions had their pick up right as you come out of the terminal. The CruiseOnly folks were very helpful getting our air travel. I found out later they used Holland America's travel service. 

If if I had to do it over I would search the Internet for deals but book directly with the cruise line. Holland America is a good choice. 

Entertainment show were outstanding, staff was very friendly willing to help when needed. Dining package was a great option was able to try a few of the different cuisines on the ship.

Great site to see, bad experiences: 1) I found finger nail in my food and services was bad the waiters was forgetful of our orders 2) the Internet was down and nobody was there to help Internet cafe 3) they had one IT manager for the whole cruise waited over 1 hour to resolve my problem l had to print eticket for my excursions and I had to come back in hour to get printed and anyone can pick up my eticket and use it waited again. 4) I can count in my two hands how many people greeted me on my cruise only my cabin person most of the time. 5) I've accidentally bent my glasses and ask everyone from customer service to the cabin person and nobody couldn't help me I've suffered to the whole time, nobody was willing to go extra miles to help me, never again will I cruise with NCL.

This was a mother and daughter cruise and both our first time cruising and we had a great time. We enjoyed all the options the ship provided from the restaurants and entertainment. I found all the food great and had an amazing dietician, PJ, who made sure all our meals were gluten free. As soon as they heard we couldn't have gluten they immediately introduced us to PJ and he spoiled us. That was bonus we didn't know was even offered.

My daughter and I don't drink alcohol so I didn't pay for all the drinks to be inclusive and it was annoying sodas were not free, or had to pay for a lemonade in the bars, but it helped me cut back, and drink more water. Also, the free coffee in the machines up in the garden cafe was the worst ever, but I would not lower my score for that reason. The coffee is the only negative thing I dealt with every morning. 

Our storeroom steward, Wayne, was first-class. Another reason we felt spoiled. 

Overall, I will do another cruise again and would use Norwegian again.

We had a wonderful 7 day cruise on Norwegian Epic.  We started by flying in a couple of days early into Barcelona, Spain and we were so happy that we did!  We stayed at the B-Hotel which was in very short walking distance to many restaurants as well as shopping and the Magic Fountains.  We had an incredible time on the cruise and went on a new adventure each and every day.  This is a great way to see Europe because it gives you a little taste of so many different cities!  We would explore all day and then come back to luxury at night.  Would highly recommend this trip to anyone!

I loved the 7 day cruise that I was on. The staff, room service, and food was excellent. I chose this cruise due to the affordability of viewing the most countries in the short amount of time. However, there were no shuttles to most of the ports and all transportation off of the ports were costly and had to be outsourced by independent drivers everyday of the cruise except one day when the shuttle was provided the customers were charged. Due to this daily expense and the hidden daily fee per person for room servicing my vacation became expensive and way over budget.

I have been dreaming and plotting this trip for years. It ended up being truly charmed, much better than I hoped. Each port was spectacular and my shore excursions went off without a hitch. I booked excursions with AA and saved a lot of money over the cruise line excursions.

Nice friendly service, well organized, good logistics. But there was a hugh bottleneck with just one guy on the internet desk to sell packages and resolve the many issues. Had to wait in line for over an hour several times.

I really enjoyed the trip.  I traveled with my husband, daughter and four girlfriends and we had a blast.  I used Norwegian to book my flights and transfers from the airport to the cruise ship and everything was seamless.  The boat was great and the staff was amazing.  The excursions I booked through the cruise line were also well organized and fun.  The tour guides were knowledgeable and funny.  We learned a lot and we laughed a lot.  The only issue we had during our trip was the fact that a very large tour group was on our cruise.  They were rude, pushy and unpleasant.  If the group wasn't on our cruise it would have been perfection.  Unfortunately they were such a large group we could not get away from their bad behavior.  I have taken about 10 cruises and this is the first time I have had this type of experience.

If I were to use this cruise line again I would hope that we would not have the same experience.  Since this was our first time using this line, I might consider giving them another try.  But it would have to be a cruise closer to home.  

The BEST part of the cruise was GETTING OFF when we got back to Southampton,this was the first time we cruised with Princess,and it will most certainly be the LAST.

Costa review is nice and we had a high expectation when we book our cruise.

English language should be the principal communication on board. Anouncement over the shipboard communication system sometimes never transmitted in english.

We are force to join the Italians, Spanish, French or Germans in our excursions because no English speaking groups.

We celebrated in style for our wedding anniversary. Our friends decorated our cabin door, the cabin attendant dressed our bed with swans and heart, the staff in the windjammer sang to us with candles in the breakfast muffins and the best part of all was how Walter our waiter had dressed our table and was on hand to take photos, we also had chocolate dipped strawberries, a glass of bubbly each for our table, more deserts with candles and more singing - very enjoyable day

Two full days in Barcelona, plus seeing the western Mediterranean islands, made for much nicer stops than our previous cruise in this area (on Celebrity, Rome and Florence are not really port cities). Some of the areas of the ship seemed nicer on Celebrity, but our stateroom was as nice; and we really liked having a balcony off the back of the ship. The food was good, but I was not crazy about " my time" dining. It took too long to eat in the dining room, and the Windjammer was usually packed. Specialty dining was nice, but I'm not sure it was worth the extra money (since I end up feeling stuffed). I felt foolish that I purchased the "premium" drink package. Over a thousand bucks for the cruise for my wife and I, and the wine selection was only fair at best. I would have been way better off buying a nicer bottle of wine and drinking less. Service at the bars was variable (with the exception of the Filipino gentleman at Vintages whose name I vowed to remember, but I don't). Service at dinner was good (the server we had most nights, Leau, was exceptional), our room steward was very good (Arietty).

The staff on the ship was very nice and polite.  

The food could have been better and more variety.

The Shore Excursions were great.

Could have had more dance classes at a variety of times.

Seemed like the theater entertainment was not as good as I have experienced before on Royal Caribbean or other ships.

dining meus were too simple as budget cruise.

dancing programs were good.

no body lotions supplied.

formal dining room menu and service were not good.

cruise staffs seem to be in-experienced.

Overall we had a great experience. Entertainment needs some major improvement, more fun games/activities, variety of music needs to be updated, especially dance music. 

First time on Royal Caribbean.  Totally enjoyed everything but the drink packages.  Very disappointed that not even a cappuccino is included in the classic package nor water.  Service staff is excellent, specialty restaurants are very good, enjoyed Chops and Giovanni's table.  Entertainment and Cruise Director were very good.  Celtic Tenors were amazing.  The ship's entertainment staff shows were high schoolish at best, but amazing costumes. All the outside professional entertainers were amazing. Must say the 70's interactive event was so much fun with staff dressed as The Village People in all their regalia.  HIghlight of the cruise.  Would recommend this ship and the itinerary.

The Oosterdam was recently refurbished and just beautiful.  The crew is all so fantastic.  I am a seasoned cruiser and can absolutely tell you this was one of the more memorable cruises I have been on.

NICE SHIP AND CREW. PORTS OF CALL WERE INTERESTING. KEEPS YOU VERY BUSY.. SHIP IS NOT SO BIG AS TO GET LOST.  GET "NO WAIT IN LINE" TICKETS TO SITES IN ADVANCE. 

The food on this ship was the best we've had on a cruise.  Make sure if you are given free on shore excursions for your cruise that you book them BEFORE you board. We found out from people on board, that if you didn't book the free tours before, you lost out. When we asked the destinations desk, we were told that it's a different company that books those and they can't do it on board. Also make sure you book your specialty restaurants before you board. We were told you could only book one night at each restaurant before but could make as many extra reservations as soon as you boarded. We sat the first day for lunch with a couple who were given a hard time with the man who booked the reservations. We had trouble ourselves but we told him we were advised on the phone prior to boarding that we could make additional reservations as soon as we boarded. He then gave in and gave us 2 more reservations. For a high end cruise we expected a well appointed room. The bathroom was a disappointment with a shower curtain instead of a glass door. We had an ocean view room with no balcony. The entertainment was also a disappointment. On Costa cruise line Mediterranean  cruises, they bring entertainment on board from each port: an opera singer from Italy; a flamenco dancer from Spain etc. On Nautica most  of the shows were 2 guys and 2 girls singing and dancing. I'm glad I tried Oceania once. However, I could have gone on several cruises for the money I paid for this one. I didn't feel met my expectations for what I paid.